TOKYO, Feb. 12 -- A helicopter of Japan Maritime Self- Defense Forces (SDF) with three people on board went missing on Thursday, local media reported.

According to Japan's Jiji News Agency, the helicopter took off from an air base in Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan at around 9:19 a.m. local time, while ground commanders lost contact with it after 11:05 a.m.

"The fuel it brings would run out at around 12:20 p.m.," a spokesman for the Maritime SDF told reporters, adding they are still searching the training helicopter and investigating the cause of the incident.

Three missing crew members belong to a fighter training group, including captain Yamamoto, who is in his 30s.